Hi!

What’s your thoughts about chip stacking? The other day, I watched a live play game by which all the chips used were colored out to only 2 color chips. There was also one player who had his larger chips hidden behind the cheaper chips and had a cheaper chip on top of his larger chips for others to think he only had stacks of cheaper chips. The opponent of the said player went all-in at some point and lost however later on found out they had the same amount of chips.

What’s your thoughts about what the guy did? Do you think it was something unethical and unacceptable?

Thanks in advance!

All the best,
Darwin
Darwin,

Larger denomination chips are required to be visible at all times at the table. This is a rules violation. If the player with hidden chips moved all in and was called, his larger chips are still in play even if they are hidden.

Related articles:

1. Chip Dumping
2. Final Table Chip Count at WPT
3. About Coloring Up

Hi,

Any idea of the weight of the chips used in holdem tournaments? Sorry for this, I hope I make sense here.

Thanks in advance!

Warm regards,
Jim
Jim,

Most casino chips are around 10 grams in weight.

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1. Final Table Chip Count at WPT
2. Insufficient Chips
3. No Limit Cash Game and Tournament

Hello,

There’s a question about 11.5 gram chips having a lead insert posted here on your site. I actually have a set of these, I have two. Well, I love them, I was just with the bad side to the lead insert.

Any thoughts?

Thank you.

Warm regards,
Miguel
Miguel,

Unless you plan on eating your chips, you should be fine. When I mean eating your chips, I mean eating a good amount of them. There isn’t enough lead in most chips to cause most people harm. Of course, if you are concerned, there are lead free alternatives.

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1. Slowing Down a Lead Bettor and Check Raising the Turn
2. Final Table Chip Count at WPT
3. About Chip Stacking

Hi,

I was looking at one of your articles about being loose and tight when I stumbled on something about $4/8 rack. I’m a newbie so I don’t totally understand what is it. I saw you won 1000 with 12 racks and just couldn’t add it up. I tried to look at the question page but haven’t found any info about it. What’s $4/8 rack?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Many thanks,
Jervy
Jervy,

The person referring to this was probably referring to picking up a rack of chips with denominations that could be used in a $4-$8 game. If you have a rack, you have a holder containing a certain amount of poker chips. Basically this player has $1,000 in chips and had to use 12 racks to carry them.

Related articles:

1. Chip Dumping
2. About Chip Stacking
3. Final Table Chip Count at WPT

Hello,

Do you think it is wise to switch your play from full table strategy to short table strategy or just go on based on concepts of full table in case you’re on the cusp between the two, say 6 or 7 players and two or three fold in front of you pre-flop?

Based on my own experience, most of the time I stack with my full table however once in a while I switch to short table strategy particularly when my starting hand comes with a face card. What’s your thoughts on this?

Thanks in advance!

Regards,
James
James,

I tend to stay at full table strategy until I get to around 5 players or so. The only time I switch this is when I am a big chip leader, or I am playing with some particularly bad players. Otherwise, don’t risk your chips.

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1. From Full Tables to Short-Handed Ones
2. Pot Odds and the Cost to See Fourth Street
3. Very Loose and Aggressive Game

Hello,

I visited the WPT site and I saw it provided information about the final table at one of its tournaments. It provided the starting chip count for the players and I noticed every player has a different amount. There are also instances where a player would have twice the chip of the other player.

Well, just an information, I know that players have their entrance fee and have a set amount of chips the same as any other else therefore any winning player should have the same number of chips to end as anybody else.

However I’m wondering if how do such big differences come about. Any idea? And is it fair that some players at the final table have a big advantage in terms of starting chip amount?

Thank you very much in advance. I assure you that any help you will extend will be much appreciated.

Warm regards,
Collin Michaels
Collin,

As far as being fair or unfair, the players all start on the same footing at the beginning of the tournament. The structure of the tournaments are fair and the stack sizes are the result of the various players skill, luck, and ability to accumulate chips.

Related articles:

1. Chip Count or Best Hand?
2. About Chip Stacking
3. Moving a Player From One Table to Another

Hello,

I noticed that as the blinds increase, the lower denomination chips are no longer wanted. Therefore most of the time, we turn our $1 chips in for $5 chips. But most of the time we end up having $1 chips. Say one guy has two $1 chip, another guy has 2 chips, and the last has 1 chip. For me each guy should be given a card from the deck for each chip at hand then the guy holding the best hand will take the privilege of having the $5 chip. Am I right?

Another thing, what’s the best hand? Well, I know small straights and flushes are of no value and of help. But how about pairs? Say player A has a pair of 6′s while player B has an Ace-Jack, who has a much better hand?

And about coloring up, can a player actually get more than one chip? Say player A has four $1 chip, players B and C have 3 chips, and finally player D has 4 chips. Player D was dealt A-A-J-10 while players B and C was dealt K-9-6 and J-7-3 respectively. Do you think the player with the pair of aces will have both $5 chips or just $1 chip as the other to player B? What do you think?

Thanks!

Regards,
Ben
Ben,

A player may not get more than one chip.

Related articles:

1. Last Two Places
2. About the Second Place
3. Chip Count or Best Hand?

Hi there!

I have something to ask. It’s actually something that is related to players who don’t have sufficient chips to post either the small blind or the big blind. Say in a tournament with blinds 20/40, player in the small blind has only 15 in chips. Do you think he should be eliminated as he was not able to meet the blind value requirement or he can actually continue regardless if he has enough chips etc.?

I hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks a lot!

Correll
Correll,

He is permitted to continue playing, but the most he can win from each player is 15.

Related articles:

1. Weight of Tournament Chips
2. Surprising Chips
3. On Blind Rules

Hello,

In a recent tourney, something came up. There were three players left and the first two pots were paid. Player A first acted out and placed 500 bet. Player B called the bet, he was then all in. Player C went all in however he has 550. Player A called the extra 50, thus having 100 in a side pot.

Later, player A had a full house, player B two pair and player C had ace high. Player A won the two pots but we were confused then who was the second placer. We thought of player B because of his hand that beaten player C’s hand in the final hand but we also considered player C as he had chips that player B can’t have technically. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Regards,
Coleman
Coleman,

In a tournament when multiple players are eliminated, the eliminated player that had the most chips at the start of the hand gets the superior placing. Since player C started the hand with more chips, he finishes in 2nd.

Related articles:

1. On Second and Third Place
2. Last Two Places
3. Who’ll Have the Higher Place?

Hello,

What is chip dumping? I saw the term listed in 2007 WSOP Rules. I know you’re the best person to help me on this.

Thanks,
Lutz
Lutz,

This is a form of cheating.

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1. Teamwork Cheating
2. Final Table Chip Count at WPT
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Hi,

I was in a satellite Texas Holdem tournament in Casino du Liban in Lebanon just a month ago. Well, something happened.

The dealer first asked us to place the small and big blinds while afterwards he started shuffling the cards. Few seconds and he started distributing the cards but the manager interrupted and told me I should take my chips from inside the line and then gather all my chips so I can move in to another table.

Now, I want to know if he actually has the power to move a player at such point he has already posted the blind, any thoughts? In satellite tournaments, is there any rules I should know with regards to moving players from one table to another?

Thanks!

Lileberg
Lileberg,

The floor staff have the ability to move you at any time to balance tables. It does not matter if you have posted your blind or not. As long as cards have not been dealt to you, the floor person can move you.

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1. Moving In to Another Table
2. Final Table Chip Count at WPT
3. Possible Difficulties

Hello there!

I have a question to ask but I’m not sure if it was already asked before. If it was, I’m very sorry. I don’t have much time to read all of the stuff posted here in your site.

Well, my question goes like this. In case I raise all-in and get called by the short stack and one guy with a larger stack and then the big stack player wins the hand, who will get a higher place, the guy with more chips at the beginning of the hand or the guy who had the higher ranked five cards during such hand? What’s your thoughts on this one?

I hope to hear from you in no time.

Thank you very much.

Regards,
Busch
Busch,

In a tournament when multiple players are eliminated, the eliminated player that had the most chips at the start of the hand gets the superior placing.

Related articles:

1. On Second and Third Place
2. About the Second Place
3. Chip Count or Best Hand?

Hi,

I was in an event last night which started with 8 players then almost ended with 3. Actually, before the start of the event, all of us agreed to pay out 3 places. Well, player 1 had sufficient chips to cover players 2 and 3.

At some point, players 2 and 3 were all in. Player 1 had three sixes, therefore he won the first place. Player 3 had three threes while player 2 had two kings. Considering this, how would you pay out the 3 places? Do you think it’s player 2 with the second highest chip count at the start who should win the second place money or it’s player 3 with the second best hand?

Thanks in advance!

Mitchell Rose
Mitchell,

In a tournament when multiple players are eliminated, the eliminated player that had the most chips at the start of the hand gets the superior placing. In your example, player 2 wins 2nd place.

Related articles:

1. Final Table Chip Count at WPT
2. Last Two Places
3. On Second and Third Place